Costs:14,600 yen (2 nights accommodation, 3 meals, 1000 yen Burgers and beers lunch voucher and nomihoudai party, no ski pass), Ski pass for either Hakuba Goryu/Iimori/47 or Happo one* is additional (+4500 for a one day pass, +7500 for a weekend pass,) 500 yen returnable ski pass deposit (For Goryu)Double/Twin bedrooms are available at 4000 yen extra (per couple). There are only 2 rooms (perhaps 3), so book early. However, I am looking into more rooms in a hotel a few minutes away.One 4 bed room is available for 4,000 yen extra (per 4 people).

*If you are interested in Happo-one passes, please read the FAQ below.

Included in that price is a 1000 yen voucher for base burger and restaurant and café, which opened last year. The voucher is valid all weekend (More details below). Additionally, we have Saturday night's party which is held in the function room of the hotel. Things to note about the party...

- This year it is nomihoudai again!!!- There will be a boat race again!- Some snacks will be provided.- Hopefully, we will also have a DJ there too,

PLEASE RSVP ASAP or by January 12th. The clothing deadline is Jan 10th.

The Plan: Friday PM

Arrive in Hakuba

Check in and pay

Socialize

Saturday AM

Breakfast

Collect your pass and rental gear

Meet the instructors and hit the slopes

Saturday PM

Onsen, dinner, relax

PARTY TIME

Sunday AM

Breakfast

hit the slopes

Or do whatever you want

Sunday PM

Return passes and rental gear

Head home unless you're staying an extra day!

Monday

Enjoy your extra day on the slopes

Hey! What am I getting for my money?- Friday and Saturday night accommodation with a late checkout on Sunday if needed- Discounted lift passes- 3 meals (breakfast Saturday and Sunday, dinner Saturday)- A 1000 yen voucher to use at Base - Burger and beers, and Base - Coffee and Donuts- Saturday night party - Nomihoudai, Boat race, Music and possibly a DJ too.

For a little extra...Rental gear and lessons are available for the above prices.

The package can be changed depending on how many nights you want to stay. However, let us know in advance especially if you have dietary restrictions.

Shirt Info The official YETI Ski trip 2018 polo shirts and hoodies are designed by Theresa Pinhey. Here is the mockup of the designs for you!There is a back and front print, and you can have a name of your choosing printed on the front (limit 20 characters Japanese or Romaji).

Polo Shirt - 3200 yen

Hoodie - 4500 yen

The shirts are available from SS to 5L size. Check out your size below before ordering.

I'm so down!! What do I do now?Well the next step is to RSVP! Please use the following google form to RSVP if you are in Yamanashi. Otherwise, use the form in your ken's FB page.https://goo.gl/forms/DT8szgcwdvcFDCHH3

If you came last year and want to know your sizes, here is last years list.

If you have any questions, read the FAQ and if that doesn't cover it, then ask on here as there are bound to be more people who don't understand!

FAQAaaaaaarrrrggggghhhh ! I want to come but I am working on Saturday!Fret not. There is an option to stay on the Sunday and Monday. You will just have to get yourselves to Hakuba and I can sort everything out. If there is enough demand from a certain region i.e. Kofu, I can hire a van for the group. Don't forget that you can also stay on Monday, making it a 3-day weekend and enjoy the quieter slopes.

Aaaaaaarrrrggggghhhh ! I want to come but I am terrible at budgetingGenerally, I only take the money when you arrive at the hotel as it is easier for me to collect all the money in one place... well relatively. It also means that certain things can be changed on Friday night if we have the flexibility. However, if you cancel, you will be liable for those things that I have already paid for/ cannot get out of.If you are having cash flow issues, just let me know and we'll work something out.This year, a number of people have wanted to pay some/all the money upfront so that they can't spend it. If you want to take this option, you can furikomi the money to me. Just get in touch and I will send you my bank details.

Hold on? If I take nenkyuu, can I get in on this Monday option and have a 3 day trip?Yep, you certainly can. It’ll just cost extra.

I’m interested in the Happo one passes. What’s the deal with that?Hakuba Goryu/Iimori/47 and three interlinked skifields located about 7 mins walk from our hotel and the pass works on all of the lifts there. The lessons will be held at Iimori ski field. Happo one is a ski field located about a 15min drive away. If you wish to go there, you’ll need to make sure that you have your own transport. I can do passes for Saturday or Saturday and Sunday, but not Sunday only. You’ll be given a voucher for your pass which is exchanged at Happo with a 500 yen deposit for the pass.

What are these 1000 yen vouchers?Japan Powder opened a restaurant last year, called Base - Burgers and beers, just outside the Escal plaza. See the attached PDF for their prices (Fried Chicken prices TBC). They also run a cafe called Base - Coffee and donuts on the site of the old Alaskan Burger which will do doughnuts and hotdrinks, again see the attached PDF.The voucher is worth 1000 yen and is valid at either place but you won't get any change back from it. It also can't be split between the two.The restaurant is forecast to hold 40-50 people and the cafe about 20. With a group our size, if you could possibly stagger your visit, that would help them out a lot!

What is the accommodation like?Rooms are ensuite ryokan style with heaters, towels, shampoo and body soap. Rooms are generally 5-9 people per room.Lady Diana has separate sex onsens that will be open for the duration of the trip. More details further downDouble/Twin rooms are 4000 yen per room extra (i.e. 2000 per person) but are in limited supply. The one quad bedroom is 1000 yen per person extra. Book early to avoid disappointment! I am looking at extra rooms in a nearby hotel and will let you know if I am successful.

What is the sausage room/taco room?AKA the boys room/girls room. As there are so many people coming from Yamanashi, some of the guys get their own room together, as do the girls. They are affectionately know as the Sausage room and Taco room.

Where do I get my rental equipment?Your rental equipment will be delivered to the basement of St Georges hotel or outside Lady Diana in the morning and labelled for you. The prices are really low as the equipment is a few years old and will do the job for beginners and casual boarders/skiers. If you are serious about your snow sports and equipment, then you will need to go to the resort plaza and pay serious prices.

They are roughly 4000-5250/7200-11550 yen for 1day/2days for the good stuff.

What if it doesn’t fit?As always, sizes aren't always exact. Try everything on in the morning and the rental guy(s) will be there to change things for you if need be. Please bear in mind that English may not be their first language. For those of you worried about being extra small/big, ‘t worry! We have always been able to accommodate people at the far end of the scale.

I have my own coat and stuff. Is it good enough? Or do I go with the rental stuff?I turn to my good friend Sachi for this¦“You don‘t have to rent clothes. If you have a winter jacket, you'd hope it would protect you from snow which occurs in winter. The rental gear option is more for the people that are new to winter sports, or winter in general, that might not have winter equipment. Some ALTs come from tropical climates and would never need to buy useless heavy warm jackets that you might need in your home country. I had never seen snow before I came to Japan and the only time I saw my breath was when I was getting stuff from a freezer. If your gear can handle snow and cold, then there shouldn't be a problem.

‘t forget you will fall over a bit, especially when you're learning, so I highly recommend you double check your shit is waterproof!

Sach

I have my own equipment but I can't get it in the car.Either find someone who can take it up for you, or Kuroneko's Ski Takkyubin delivery service is an option at under 3500 yen return trip for most people. You may need to buy their carrier at 240/500 yen.

Do I need snow tyres? I have never driven in the snowYES! You can drive on summer tyres if you want and I cannot stop you. However, depending on the weather, the police may be doing spot checks on the expressways and on the way to the ski fields. If you do not have snow tyres, then they will turn you back. This has been the case for three out of the last four years.Additionally, should you have an accident on summer tyres your insurance will not cover you as someone found out four years back.Chains are an alternative but best to have them on all four tyres.If you are not experienced/confident about driving in the snow, just take it easy and be gentle with your braking, acceleration and steering. If cars behind you are pressurising you, then let them pass you.

Can I board one day and ski the other?Of course. Just tell me which day for which, before the RSVP date and the prices will the same.Changing your mind during the course of the trip may be a little tricky though.

What if I decide not to hit the slopes on the second day? Can I get a refund for my pass/equipment? How about adding an extra day.If you can tell me ASAP about changes, the easier it is for me to change things. If you want to change things during the trip, it can be tricky. I will have paid for the passes and equipment by the time we are there. As a rule, it is easier to add things than to take them away. Whatever the case, I will do my best.What if I need extra equipment such as bumpads?There are shops in the Escal plaza at the bottom of Goryu ski field that can supply you with everything.

What about Luuuuuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnncccccccccccchhhhhhh ?Lunch? The ski fields all have a choice of restaurants including a Subway and a Mos Burger and also serve hot drinks and beer. Food ranges from tradition Japanese fare to western dishes too.Pack enough money to cover your lunch and beverages. Obviously, you will all have a voucher to use at Burgers and Beers too, but it is also nice to have choices too. Besides, you may also use the voucher for liquid refreshments.

I’ve never seen snow in my life! Am I going to fail miserably?Hells no! Even the pros had to learn somehow. There will always be a friendly face somewhere who will give you a few pointers. Everyone has a different learning curve and you will revel in the camaraderie.

Can I get lessons?Yes! Five antipodean instructors are booked for Saturday morning, exclusively for beginners. If there is enough demand, afternoon lessons for intermediate and higher will be provided. Pick up is at 8.30am(provisionally) to take you to the bunny slope. SO DON‘T GO ON YOUR OWN. A few years ago, one person decided to go on their own and ended up at the wrong ski field. Please try your stuff early in the morning, before breakfast as it may take some time to change things.The AM session will be from 9am to 12pm, PM from 1pm to 4pm. Please judge your level on a scale of 0-6 with 0 being total beginner and 6 being advanced when RSVPing. The classes may come down to majority rule.

Where are the nearest onsens? And what is this about a shuttle?As luck would have it, the hotel has it’s own onsens. There are separate male and female facilities and they will be open for the duration of our trip.

There are also onsens in the local area but even the nearest one is a few minutes drive away, with a popular one being the one at the Hotel Hakuba Goryu.

Ownership of the Onsen has changed this year, so I don’t know if I can get discounted tickets like last year, but I will be seeing if I can. Last year’s shuttle is also up in the air too.

I don't really like big parties, what else is there to do on Saturday night?Not everyone is into drinking and partying. Every year, some people hang out in the lobby upstairs or in their rooms and chat one-to-one or play games. One year, we even had a bible study session. There are options for everyone.

I want to come for the party but don‘t want to be on the slopes, what do I do?Snow penises, movies, knitting, p0rn, play boardgames, borrow a car and visit the beautiful scenery, the options are endless. Last year, 25 people came for the craic.

So RSVP people as soon as possible and give me as much info as possible. Any questions are welcome.

1) The trip is at 159 people at the moment, so we have about 15 spots left. When we get down to 5 spots, I am going to have to make a waiting list and then play tetris with the rooms. But rest assured, I will do my best to fit everyone in.

2) Hoodies and polos deadline is today. After that, if you want one, IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ll have to ask the printer and play it by ear

3) As we are getting closer, IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ll be putting up messages from time to time with important stuff.Probably Friday, IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ll release the gear rental stuff for you guys to check and room assignments will be done after Monday, along with meal times.

4) At the moment, I have to use a number of rooms that donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t have an ensuite bathroom, but are very close to the toilet and onsen. If you are ok with being placed in them, theyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ll be 1000 yen cheaper. Could you get in touch with me if you are ok with that? At the moment, the available rooms can hold up to 4 (x2), 6 (x2) and 8 people.

Hi Everyone,As the winter break is coming up, work is winding down for most of us and some of us will be heading off home. Infact, some already are home and I will be off next week too. So I thought IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢d give you an update about the event before that. I will be checking things whilst I am away though, so I should respond pretty quickly.

1) The trip now has 120 RSVPs which is HUGE. I have booked some rooms at a hotel 2-3 mins walk from the main hotel and can now accommodate 160 people (up from 140).

2) The printer of the hoodies has asked to do the printing in two batches so that he can get everything done in time for Jan 20th. So I will be sending him the current order of hoodie and polos on Tuesday. If you want me to print it after Jan 11th, LET ME KNOW ASAP.Please check above for what I have noted for you

Just scroll down and see your order. Anything with a * is being sent.

3) If you have changes to anything, let me know. I will not be able to check posts that have been edited. So if you do edit them, let me know by tagging me

Katherine/Stephen - That's all good!Jack - Also all good. Get back to me if you want a hoodie ot polo. Also, once you know what Julia needs, you can either post here or through the FB event.Charlie - Ditto for MakoSara - I just want more and more interesting tidbits from you every year! Also,yes...apparently it is gone now. I was surprised too. They do have a their original branch near Happo One ( I believe). And good work reading the whole FAQ too.

A few changes from last year- Prices for the hotel have gone up by 600 yen unfortunately- However, everyone gets a 1000 yen voucher valid at both a newly opened restaurant and coffee bar next to the slopes- Higher material price have meant the hoodie has gone up 300 yen- The hotel is providing a shuttle bus to the onsen down the road- Still nomihoudai at the party

And here is the RSVP

1. Name :

2. Which package are you taking? (i.e. staying 2 nights and 2 day pass (Saturday and Sunday) for Hakuba Goryu)Do you want a double room (limited availability)?Do you want a quad room (limited availability) ?

Costs:14,600 yen ( 2 nights accommodation), 2 day weekend Ski pass for either Hakuba Goryu/Iimori/47 or Happo one* (+7500), 1 day weekend pass (+4500), Weekday pass (+3000 per day).500 yen returnable ski pass deposit (For Goryu)Double/Twin bedrooms are available at 4000 yen extra (per couple). There are only 2 rooms (perhaps 3), so book early. However, I am looking into more rooms in a hotel a few minutes away.One 4 bed room is available for 4,000 yen extra (per 4 people).

*If you are interested in Happo-one passes, please read the FAQ below.

Included in that price is a 1000 yen voucher for a restaurant and cafe that are opening this year. The voucher is valid all weekend (More details below). Additionally, we have Saturday night's party which is held in the function room of the hotel. Things to note about the party...

- This year it is nomihoudai again!!!- There will be a boat race again!- Some snacks will be provided.- Hopefully, we will also have a DJ there too,

PLEASE RSVP ASAP or by January 14th. The clothing deadline is Jan 11th.

The Plan: Friday PM

Arrive in Hakuba

Check in and pay

Socialize

Saturday AM

Breakfast

Collect your pass and rental gear

Meet the instructors and hit the slopes

Saturday PM

Onsen, dinner, relax

PARTY TIME

Sunday AM

Breakfast

hit the slopes

Or do whatever you want

Sunday PM

Return passes and rental gear

Head home unless you're staying an extra day!

Monday

Enjoy your extra day on the slopes

Hey! What am I getting for my money?- Friday and Saturday night accommodation with a late checkout on Sunday if needed- Discounted lift passes- 3 meals (breakfast Saturday and Sunday, dinner Saturday)- A 1000 yen voucher to use at Base - Burger and beers and Base - Coffee and Donuts- Saturday night party - Nomihoudai, Boat race, Music and possibly a DJ too.- A shuttle bus to a nearby onsen

For a little extra...Rental gear and lessons are available for the above prices.

The package can be changed depending on how many nights you want to stay. However, let us know in advance especially if you have dietary restrictions.

Shirt Info The official YETI Ski trip 2017 polo shirts and hoodies is designed by Katherine Vos! Here is the mockup of the designs for you!There is a back and front print, and you can have a name of your choosing printed on the front (limit 20 characters Japanese or Romaji).

Polo Shirt - 3200 yen

Hoodie - 4500 yen

The shirts are available from SS to 5L size. Check out your size below before ordering.

If you have any questions, read the FAQ and if that doesn't cover it, then ask on here as there are bound to be more people who don't understand!

FAQAaaaaaarrrrggggghhhh ! I want to come but I am working on Saturday!Fret not. There is an option to stay on the Sunday and Monday. You will just have to get yourselves to Hakuba and I can sort everything out. If there is enough demand from a certain region i.e. Kofu, I can hire a van for the group. Don't forget that you can also stay on Monday, making it a 3-day weekend and enjoy the quieter slopes.

Aaaaaaarrrrggggghhhh ! I want to come but I am terrible at budgetingGenerally, I only take the money when you arrive at the hotel as it is easier for me to collect all the money in one place... well relatively. It also means that certain things can be changed on Friday night if we have the flexibility. However, if you cancel, you will be liable for those things that I have already paid for/ cannot get out of.If you are having cash flow issues, just let me know and we'll work something out.This year, a number of people have wanted to pay some/all the money upfront so that they can't spend it. If you want to take this option, you can furikomi the money to me. Just get in touch and I will send you my bank details.

Hold on? If I take nenkyuu, can I get in on this Monday option and have a 3 day trip?Yep, you certainly can. ItÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ll just cost extra.

IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢m interested in the Happo one passes. WhatÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s the deal with that?Hakuba Goryu/Iimori/47 and three interlinked skifields located about 7 mins walk from our hotel and the pass works on all of the lifts there. The lessons will be held at Iimori ski field. Happo one is a ski field located about a 15min drive away. If you wish to go there, youÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ll need to make sure that you have your own transport. I can do passes for Saturday or Saturday and Sunday, but not Sunday only. YouÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ll be given a voucher for your pass which is exchanged at Happo with a 500 yen deposit for the pass.

What are these 1000 yen vouchers?Japan Powder is opening up a restaurant, called Base - Burgers and beers, which is just outside the Escal plaza. See the attached PDF for their prices (Fried Chicken prices TBC). They are also opening a cafe called Base - Coffee and donuts on the site of the old Alaskan Burger which will do doughnuts and hotdrinks, again see the attached PDF.The voucher is worth 1000 yen and is valid at either place but you won't get any change back from it. It also can't be split between the two.The restaurant is forecast to hold 40-50 people and the cafe about 20. With a group our size, if you could possibly stagger your visit, that would help them out a lot!

What is the accommodation like?Rooms are ensuite ryokan style with heaters, towels, shampoo and body soap. Rooms are generally 5-9 people per room.Lady Diana has separate sex onsens that will be open for the duration of the trip. More details further downDouble/Twin rooms are 4000 yen per room extra (i.e. 2000 per person) but are in limited supply. The one quad bedroom is 1000 yen per person extra. Book early to avoid disappointment! I am looking at extra rooms in a nearby hotel and will let you know if I am successful.

What is the sausage room/taco room?AKA the boys room/girls room. As there are so many people coming from Yamanashi, some of the guys get their own room together, as do the girls. They are affectionately know as the Sausage room and Taco room.

Where do I get my rental equipment?Your rental equipment will be delivered to the basement of St Georges hotel or outside Lady Diana in the morning and labelled for you. The prices are really low as the equipment is a few years old and will do the job for beginners and casual boarders/skiers. If you are serious about your snow sports and equipment, then you will need to go to the resort plaza and pay serious prices.

They are roughly 4000-5250/7200-11550 yen for 1day/2days for the good stuff.

What if it doesnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t fit?As always, sizes aren't always exact. Try everything on in the morning and the rental guy(s) will be there to change things for you if need be. Please bear in mind that English may not be their first language. For those of you worried about being extra small/big, donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t worry! We have always been able to accommodate people at the far end of the scale.

I have my own coat and stuff. Is it good enough? Or do I go with the rental stuff?I turn to my good friend Sachi for thisÃ¢â‚¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Å“You donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t have to rent clothes. If you have a winter jacket, you'd hope it would protect you from snow which occurs in winter. The rental gear option is more for the people that are new to winter sports, or winter in general, that might not have winter equipment. Some ALTs come from tropical climates and would never need to buy useless heavy warm jackets that you might need in your home country. I had never seen snow before I came to Japan and the only time I saw my breath was when I was getting stuff from a freezer. If your gear can handle snow and cold, then there shouldn't be a problem.

DonÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t forget you will fall over a bit, especially when you're learning, so I highly recommend you double check your shit is waterproof!

SachÃ¢â‚¬Â

I have my own equipment but I can't get it in the car.Either find someone who can take it up for you, or Kuroneko's Ski Takkyubin delivery service is an option at under 3500 yen return trip for most people. You may need to buy their carrier at 240/500 yen.

Do I need snow tyres? I have never driven in the snowYES! You can drive on summer tyres if you want and I cannot stop you. However, depending on the weather, the police may be doing spot checks on the expressways and on the way to the ski fields. If you do not have snow tyres, then they will turn you back. This has been the case for three out of the last four years.Additionally, should you have an accident on summer tyres your insurance will not cover you as someone found out four years back.Chains are an alternative but best to have them on all four tyres.If you are not experienced/confident about driving in the snow, just take it easy and be gentle with your braking, acceleration and steering. If cars behind you are pressurising you, then let them pass you.

Can I board one day and ski the other?Of course. Just tell me which day for which, before the RSVP date and the prices will the same.Changing your mind during the course of the trip may be a little tricky though.

What if I decide not to hit the slopes on the second day? Can I get a refund for my pass/equipment? How about adding an extra day.If you can tell me ASAP about changes, the easier it is for me to change things. If you want to change things during the trip, it can be tricky. I will have paid for the passes and equipment by the time we are there. As a rule, it is easier to add things than to take them away. Whatever the case, I will do my best.What if I need extra equipment such as bumpads?There are shops in the Escal plaza at the bottom of Goryu ski field that can supply you with everything.

What about Luuuuuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnncccccccccccchhhhhhh Ã¢â€žÂ¢ ?Lunch? The ski fields all have a choice of restaurants including a Subway and a Mos Burger and also serve hot drinks and beer. Food ranges from tradition Japanese fare to western dishes too.Pack enough money to cover your lunch and beverages. Obviously, you will all have a voucher to use at Burgers and Beers too, but it is also nice to have choices too. Besides, you may also use the voucher for liquid refreshments.

IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ve never seen snow in my lifeÃ¢â‚¬Â¦ am I going to fail miserably?Hells no! Even the pros had to learn somehow. There will always be a friendly face somewhere who will give you a few pointers. Everyone has a different learning curve and you will revel in the camaraderie.

Can I get lessons?Yes! Five antipodean instructors are booked for Saturday morning, exclusively for beginners. If there is enough demand, afternoon lessons for intermediate and higher will be provided. Pick up is at 8.30am(provisionally) to take you to the bunny slope. SO DONÃ¢â‚¬â„¢T GO ON YOUR OWN. A few years ago, one person decided to go on their own and ended up at the wrong ski field. Please try your stuff early in the morning, before breakfast as it may take some time to change things.The AM session will be from 9am to 12pm, PM from 1pm to 4pm. Please judge your level on a scale of 0-6 with 0 being total beginner and 6 being advanced when RSVPing. The classes may come down to majority rule.

Where are the nearest onsens? And what is this about a shuttle?As luck would have it, the hotel has itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s own onsens. There are separate male and female facilities and they will be open for the duration of our trip.

There are also onsens in the local area but even the nearest one is a few minutes drive away, with a popular one being the one at the Hotel Hakuba Goryu.

The hotel is happy with shuttling people to and from the onsen as they have a 23 seater bus. Tentatively, the schedule is

5.00pm - Shuttle to the onsen for those eating at the 6.30 sitting5.30pm - Early dinner sitting6.15pm - Shuttle back for those eating at the 6.30 sitting6.30pm - Early dinner sitting6.45pm - Shuttle to the onsen for those who ate at the 5.30 sitting8.00pm - Shuttle back for those who ate at the 5.30 sitting

I donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t really like big parties, what else is there to do on Saturday night?Not everyone is into drinking and partying. Every year, some people hang out in the lobby upstairs or in their rooms and chat one-to-one or play games. One year, we even had a bible study session. There are options for everyone.

I want to come for the party but donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t want to be on the slopes, what do I do?Snow penises, movies, knitting, p0rn, play boardgames, borrow a car and visit the beautiful sceneryÃ¢â‚¬Â¦ the options are endless. Last year, 25 people came for the craic.

So RSVP people as soon as possible and give me as much info as possible. Any questions are welcome.

Hiya,Another update for you all.1) I have 96 RSVPs now and I have 7 spots left due to how many people the restaurant can hold for dinner. After that, IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ll have to create a standby list.Details are herehttp://www.yetijapan.com/forum/index.php?topic=9249.02) The RSVP deadline for the trip is Feb 19th evening. If you have to cancel after that and I canÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t find anyone to fill your spot, there MAY be a cancellation fee to pay. I am hoping that there isnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t one and I always try to minimize it as best possible.3) We still need some people to tell us what time they want to eat for dinner. There are 39 spots free for the early (6pm) sitting and 7 for the 7pm sitting. If I liked your post on the previous post, your preference has been noted.4) After the last ski trip, this stuff was left over. Can anyone claim any of this?

Effort Eikaiwa in Tamaho (A few minutes walk from Joei station) is looking for a part time teacher to work Thursday evenings and possibly other nights if you want.

You will be teaching various levels and it is pretty flexible, so I cannot give you any specifics at the moment. I believe that they are looking for only one teacher at the momet.

If you need more info, contact me and IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ll send you YukariÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s way. Yukari and Yuji are awesome people and I loved working for them before I moved to Enzan. If you want more info, Giseli also works for them at the moment.

Howdy Everyone,18 days to go and we are sitting at 72 confirmed RSVPs which makes this a record for the February ski trip!

I have been chatting with the hotel management and weÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ve managed to increase our booking from 60 to 72 people at the moment. WeÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re trying to increase it even further but it looks like other guests cancelling is our only hope at the moment. We still have our booking at Lady Diana, so can still accommodate people on the trip.

Having said that, we have had to split the dinner into two sittings, 6pm (Early) and 7pm (Late) with a maximum of 50 people for each. Can you please let us know if you prefer the early or late dinner with a comment/message on this post or to any of the organizers.

There is a more detailed explanation below, but here is the basic RSVP format:

1. Name:2. Which nights are you staying? Fri. and Sat or wanting to do an extra night?3. What Ski pass do you want? 0/1/2/3-day pass? Would you like to go to Happo?4. Gear Rental : Yes / No? If yes, please say what : (skis or board / boots / clothing etc) Shoe size : **cm Height: **cm (if you require board / skis) Clothes Sizes Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Please provide Japanese sizes, if possible Gloves/Goggles Helmet (Small / Medium / Large) 5. Skiing/Snowboarding lessons? If yes, boarding or skiing, and what level are you? (Beginner 1/2, Intermediate 3/4, Advanced 5/6) 6. Do you want to get a hoodie or polo from the January trip? If so, what size and what name do you want to personalise it with (maximum 20 characters)?7. Transport: required / not required / a friend is driving me. Do you have a licence/IDP?8. Do you have any dietary needs?9. Other information or requests (roommate requests, want to stay a 3rd night, etc)

This year, weÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ve got the entire hotel to ourselves, which means there are 60 71 spots available. As this is a 4-star hotel, the rooms will have extra futons in them to bring the price down to something affordable. The package includes 2 nights accommodation, 2 breakfasts and dinner on Saturday night. Normally, the prices are 13,000 to 22,000 yen per person per night excluding dinner.

There is also a possibility of adding extra days before or after the trip, let me know if you are interested in that.After the first 60 71 spots are taken, any further guests will be placed at Lady Diana's (the same place as the January trip). There are no Double/Quad/Single night options at Aqua Alpine, but if we use Lady Diana, they will be these options.

There is no party room at the hotel. However, we can use the facilities of the hotel, including the lounge, bar and pool room. The bar will run happy hour for us all weekend.Also, I have been sourcing tickets to Happo-One as priced above. Let me know if you are interested.

I can offer a 3-hour beginner lesson for 5250 yen on Saturday morning. I have hired one instructor for skiing and one for snowboarding.Outside of this, the going rate is 7000 (am)/6000 (pm) yen per person for a 2-hour lesson. This can cover all levels and can be taken on Saturday/Sunday in either the morning or the afternoon.

Hey Everyone,I just wanted to give you an update on the event. We are currently sitting at 66RSVPs across all of the kens, which is a very healthy situation to be in. The double rooms are gone, but I am sourcing some more. The quad room is currently available.

Things are going well and fingers crossed that weÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ll get oodles of snow soon. We will be fine in January, just December is looking a bit pants.

If you are interested in inviting friends from other kens, you are more than welcome to.The ski trip actually has events in other prefectures, which you can point people to.

If you have friends coming from Tokyo, I have rented a bus for this trip and they are welcome to use it. As long as there are atleast 38 people on the bus, the price is going to be between 7700 and 8700 per person return. Pick up from Shinjuku on Friday 22nd Jan at 8pm and takes you straight to the door. Return will be Sunday, departure 4 or 5pm.

Shirt Info The official YETI Ski trip 2016 polo shirts and hoodies are designed by Ben Lenoir and Katherine Vos! Below is a mockup of how the shirts will look. It is still a work in progress but will hopefully be finished soon.There is a back and front print, and you can have a name of your choosing printed on the front (limit 20 characters Japanese or Romaji).

Polo Shirt - 3200 yen

Hoodie - 4200 yen

The shirts are available from SS to 5L size. Check out your size below before ordering.

If you have any questions, read the FAQ and if that doesn't cover it, then ask on here as there are bound to be more people who don't understand!

FAQAaaaaaarrrrggggghhhh ! I want to come but I am working on Saturday!Fret not. There is an option to stay on the Sunday and Monday. You will just have to get yourselves to Hakuba and I can sort everything out. If there is enough demand from a certain region i.e. Kofu, I can hire a van for the group. Don't forget that you can also stay on Monday, making it a 3-day weekend and enjoy the quieter slopes.

Aaaaaaarrrrggggghhhh ! I want to come but I am terrible at budgetingGenerally, I only take the money when you arrive at the hotel as it is easier for me to collect all the money in one place... well relatively. It also means that certain things can be changed on Friday night if we have the flexibility. However, if you cancel, you will be liable for those things that I have already paid for/ cannot get out of.If you are having cash flow issues, just let me know and we'll work something out.This year, a number of people have wanted to pay some/all the money upfront so that they can't spend it. If you want to take this option, you can furikomi the money to me. Just get in touch and I will send you my bank details.

Hold on? If I take nenkyuu, can I get in on this Monday option and have a 3 day trip?Yep, you certainly can. ItÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ll just cost extra.

What is the accommodation like?Rooms are ensuite ryokan style with heaters, towels, shampoo and body soap. Rooms are generally 5-9 people per room.Lady Diana has separate sex onsens that will be open for the duration of the trip.Double/Twin rooms are 3000 yen per room extra (i.e. 1500 per person) but are in limited supply. The one quad bedroom is 1000 yen per person extra. Book early to avoid disappointment!IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢m interested in the Happo one passes. WhatÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s the deal with that?Hakuba Goryu/Iimori/47 and three interlinked skifields located about 7 mins walk from our hotel and the pass works on all of the lifts there. The lessons will be held at Iimori ski field. Happo one is a ski field located about a 15min drive away. If you wish to go there, youÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ll need to make sure that you have your own transport. I can do passes for Saturday or Saturday and Sunday, but not Sunday only. YouÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ll be given a voucher for your pass which is exchanged at Happo with a 500 yen deposit for the pass.

What is the sausage room/taco room?AKA the boys room/girls room. As there are so many people coming from Yamanashi, some of the guys get their own room together, as do the girls. They are affectionately know as the Sausage room and Taco room.

Where do I get my rental equipment?Your rental equipment will be delivered to the basement of St Georges hotel or outside Lady Diana in the morning and labelled for you. The prices are really low as the equipment is a few years old and will do the job for beginners and casual boarders/skiers. If you are serious about your snow sports and equipment, then you will need to go to the resort plaza and pay serious prices.

They are roughly 3800-6400/7000-11000 yen for 1day/2days for the good stuff.

What if it doesnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t fit?As always, sizes aren't always exact. Try everything on in the morning and the rental guy(s) will be there to change things for you if need be. Please bear in mind that English may not be their first language. For those of you worried about being extra small/big, donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t worry! We have always been able to accommodate people at the far end of the scale.

I have my own coat and stuff. Is it good enough? Or do I go with the rental stuff?I turn to my good friend Sachi for thisÃ¢â‚¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Å“You donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t have to rent clothes. If you have a winter jacket, you'd hope it would protect you from snow which occurs in winter. The rental gear option is more for the people that are new to winter sports, or winter in general, that might not have winter equipment. Some ALTs come from tropical climates and would never need to buy useless heavy warm jackets that you might need in your home country. I had never seen snow before I came to Japan and the only time I saw my breath was when I was getting stuff from a freezer. If your gear can handle snow and cold, then there shouldn't be a problem.

DonÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t forget you will fall over a bit, especially when you're learning, so I highly recommend you double check your shit is waterproof!

SachÃ¢â‚¬Â

I have my own equipment but I can't get it in the car.Either find someone who can take it up for you, or Kuroneko's Ski Takkyubin delivery service is an option at under 3500 yen return trip for most people. You may need to buy their carrier at 240/500 yen.

Do I need snow tyres? I have never driven in the snowYES! You can drive on summer tyres if you want and I cannot stop you. However, depending on the weather, the police may be doing spot checks on the expressways and on the way to the ski fields. If you do not have snow tyres, then they will turn you back. This has been the case for three out of the last four years.Additionally, should you have an accident on summer tyres your insurance will not cover you as someone found out four years back.Chains are an alternative but best to have them on all four tyres.If you are not experienced/confident about driving in the snow, just take it easy and be gentle with your braking, acceleration and steering. If cars behind you are pressurising you, then let them pass you.

Can I board one day and ski the other?Of course. Just tell me which day for which, before the RSVP date and the prices will the same.Changing your mind during the course of the trip may be a little tricky though.

What if I decide not to hit the slopes on the second day? Can I get a refund for my pass/equipment? How about adding an extra day.If you can tell me ASAP about changes, the easier it is for me to change things. If you want to change things during the trip, it can be tricky. I will have paid for the passes and equipment by the time we are there. As a rule, it is easier to add things than to take them away. Whatever the case, I will do my best.What if I need extra equipment such as bumpads?There are shops in the Escal plaza at the bottom of Goryu ski field that can supply you with everything.

What about Luuuuuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnncccccccccccchhhhhhh Ã¢â€žÂ¢ ?Lunch? The ski fields all have a choice of restaurants including a Subway and a Mos Burger and also serve hot drinks and beer. Food ranges from tradition Japanese fare to western dishes too.Pack enough money to cover your lunch and beverages.

IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ve never seen snow in my lifeÃ¢â‚¬Â¦ am I going to fail miserably?Hells no! Even the pros had to learn somehow. There will always be a friendly face somewhere who will give you a few pointers. Everyone has a different learning curve and you will revel in the camaraderie.

Can I get lessons?Yes! Three antipodean instructors are booked for Saturday morning, exclusively for beginners. If there is enough demand, afternoon lessons for intermediate and higher will be provided. Pick up is at 8.30am(provisionally) to take you to the bunny slope. SO DONÃ¢â‚¬â„¢T GO ON YOUR OWN. A few years ago, one person decided to go on their own and ended up at the wrong ski field. Please try your stuff early in the morning, before breakfast as it may take some time to change things.The AM session will be from 9am to 12pm, PM from 1pm to 4pm. Please judge your level on a scale of 0-6 with 0 being total beginner and 6 being advanced when RSVPing. The classes may come down to majority rule.

I donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t really like big parties, what else is there to do on Saturday night?Not everyone is into drinking and partying. Every year, some people hang out in the lobby upstairs or in their rooms and chat one-to-one or play games. One year, we even had a bible study session. There are options for everyone.

I want to come for the party but donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t want to be on the slopes, what do I do?Snow penises, movies, knitting, p0rn, play boardgames, borrow a car and visit the beautiful sceneryÃ¢â‚¬Â¦ the options are endless. Last year, 21 people came for the craic.

So RSVP people as soon as possible and give me as much info as possible. Any questions are welcome.

Sorry about the the lack of life pass prices, but I have been waiting on them for 4 days, ready to launch this trip and I am still waiting. They should hopefully be less than January's prices. So no more than 4500/7500 yen for one/two day passes which are normally 5000/9000 yen.

There is a more detailed explanation below, but here is the basic RSVP format:

1. Name:2. Which nights are you staying? Fri. and Sat. only or Fri.,Sat. and Sun.?3. What Ski pass do you want? 0/1/2/3-day pass? Would you like to go to Happo?3. Gear Rental : Yes / No? If yes, please say what : (skis or board / boots / clothing etc) Shoe size : **cm Height: **cm (if you require board / skis) Clothes Sizes Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Please provide Japanese sizes, if possible Gloves/Goggles Helmet (Small / Medium / Large)4. Transport: required / not required / a friend is driving me5. Do you have any dietary needs?6. Skiing/Snowboarding lessons? If yes, boarding or skiing, and what level are you? (Beginner 1/2, Intermediate 3/4, Advanced 5/6)7. Do you want to get a hoodie or polo from the January trip? If so, what size and what name do you want to personalise it with (maximum 20 characters)?8. Other information or requests (roommate requests, do you have a Japanese driverÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s license or IDP, etc.)?

This year, weÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ve got the entire hotel to ourselves, which means there are 65 spots available. As this is a 4-star hotel, the rooms will have extra futons in them to bring the price down to something affordable. The package includes 2 nights accommodation, 2 breakfasts and dinner on Saturday night. Normally, the prices are 14,000 to 23,000 yen per person per night!

Also, I have 10 spots open for a third night (Sunday). This does not include dinner, but we can eat at the restaurant or go out to a local restaurant.After the first 65 spots are taken, any further guests will be placed at Lady Diana's (the same place as the January trip). There are no Double/Quad/Single night options at Aqua Alpine, but if we use Lady Diana, they will be these options.

There is no party room at the hotel. However, we can use the facilities of the hotel, including the lounge, bar and pool room. The bar will run happy hour for us all weekend.Also, I have been sourcing tickets to Happo-One as priced above. Let me know if you are interested.

I can offer a 3-hour beginner lesson for 5250 yen on Saturday morning. I have hired one instructor for skiing and one for snowboarding.Outside of this, the going rate is 6000 yen per person for a 2-hour lesson. This can cover all levels and can be taken on Saturday/Sunday in either the morning or the afternoon.

Firstly, thank you to everybody who came on the trip this year. We had 114 people, which was a new record and it went pretty smoothly.As is inevitable with a trip this big, there were a few hiccups along the way, but nothing that couldnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t be fixed quickly.

Conditions were pretty good on the slopes and Sunday was especially good.The party was hectic! Plenty of people dancing, plenty of games too. The Rest of the World took back the boat race crown in a very very tense race, which I am obviously happy about!

I also want to give a big shout out to all the people who helped out, before and during the trip. From those who helped to co-ordinate RSVPs and transport, those who helped with setting up and tidying up the hotel and all the little things in-between, it made the trip the success that it was. Thank you ever so much.

Finally, three thingsÃ¢â‚¬Â¦.1. The 2nd ski trip will be coming up soon! 65 spots at Aqua Alpine and currently negotiating the ability to stay a 3rd night too! Should be up this evening when I get some prices finalized.2. I am still taking orders for hoodies and polos. I have to do a second run and if you want one, let me know.3. Let me know if you forgot anything and IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ll see if I can find it.

This should be the last update on the trip now and it looks like it is going to be a record breaker with 114 people! Anyway, here is everything you need to know

1) Getting to the tripGooglemaps link : http://goo.gl/maps/VJjnKRoads are looking pretty clear at the moment and according to the current forecast, driving conditions are good. For those of you who aren't experienced with driving in snow, just drive within your limits. Remember that gentle inputs are best and leave a bigger gap between cars as braking distances will be longer. There is no shame in letting other cars overtake you either!

4) Room allocations. I've done the allocations to the best of my knowledge and honoured all of the requests. It takes an awfully long time to do. If you want to swap rooms, feel free to. However, I will not have the time to help you with that.